The quieter, more rural corridor of Temecula Valley, with Italian and Mediterranean wines and hillside views. Updated for 2026.
If Rancho California Road is Temecula's busy main drag of big-name wineries, the De Portola Wine Trail is its quieter, more scenic counterpart. Running along De Portola Road on the valley's southern side, this cluster of family estates, Italian and Mediterranean specialists, and view-blessed hillside wineries offers a more relaxed, rural wine-country experience, with sweeping vineyard vistas, good restaurants, and fewer crowds. For many visitors it is the most charming side of Temecula, the place to slow down, linger over a long lunch, and taste across an unusually international range of grapes.
Below are the De Portola Wine Trail wineries we think best capture the corridor, from a Persian-inspired Mediterranean estate to an Italian-varietal specialist and a view-topped flagship. These are a mix of walk-in and seated tastings; reserve ahead for the smaller and dining-focused stops. Current as of October 2026.
The De Portola view estate
A polished De Portola Road estate with sweeping vineyard views and a well-regarded restaurant, Leoness makes serious reds (Cabernet, Syrah, and its Melange de Reves blends) and is one of the trail's flagship stops for food and wine together.
Good to know: Seated tastings and dining; vineyard views. De Portola Road.
Our tip: Book a table on the terrace; the views and reds are the draw.
The Persian-inspired Mediterranean estate
A striking De Portola Road winery blending Persian hospitality with warm-climate Mediterranean varieties, Fazeli pairs its wines with a Persian-influenced restaurant (BabaJoon's), a distinctive, welcoming trail highlight.
Good to know: Tastings and dining; Mediterranean varieties. 37320 De Portola Road.
Our tip: Pair the Mediterranean wines with the Persian-inspired kitchen.
The Italian-varietal specialist
A relaxed, family-run De Portola Road estate devoted to Italian varieties (Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Aglianico, Nebbiolo, Primitivo and more), Cougar is a favorite for lovers of Italian wine and a quintessential trail stop.
Good to know: Tastings; Italian varieties. 39870 De Portola Road.
Our tip: Taste the Italian varieties; Cougar is the trail's Italian specialist.
The Tuscan-style estate and trattoria
A Tuscan-inspired De Portola Road estate with an on-site trattoria, Robert Renzoni makes Italian varieties (Montepulciano, Sangiovese) alongside other reds, an easy place to pair wine with pizza and pasta.
Good to know: Tastings and trattoria; Italian varieties. 37350 De Portola Road.
Our tip: Pair the Montepulciano with a pizza at the trattoria.
The family red-wine estate
A welcoming family estate on De Portola Road, Frangipani focuses on estate-grown reds, including Cabernet and Zinfandel, in a relaxed, down-to-earth setting that is a longtime trail favorite.
Good to know: Tastings; estate reds. 39750 De Portola Road.
Our tip: Taste the estate reds; a friendly, unpretentious trail stop.
The intimate by-appointment estate
An intimate, art-filled De Portola Road estate pouring small-production reds in a serene, gated setting, Gershon Bachus offers a quieter, more personal trail experience focused on seated, unhurried tastings.
Good to know: Seated tastings, reservations recommended. De Portola Road.
Our tip: Reserve ahead; the intimate, serene setting is the appeal.
The Spanish-inspired family estate
A family-owned De Portola Road estate with a Spanish accent, Masia de la Vinya pours estate wines in a warm, personal setting, a friendly, lower-key stop along the trail worth seeking out.
Good to know: Tastings; estate wines. De Portola Road.
Our tip: A warm, personal family estate; an easy relaxed trail stop.
The hilltop trail stop
A scenic De Portola Road winery with elevated vineyard views, Altisima offers a relaxed, welcoming tasting on the trail's quieter, more rural stretch, a pleasant stop to take in the De Portola landscape.
Good to know: Tastings; vineyard views. De Portola Road.
Our tip: Settle in for the views; the quieter trail stretch is lovely.
The De Portola Wine Trail runs along De Portola Road on the southern side of Temecula Valley, a short drive from the busier Rancho California Road cluster, so it pairs easily with a Temecula stay or stands on its own for a quieter day. Because the trail leans scenic and food-focused, it rewards an unhurried pace: pick two or three stops, build the day around a long lunch at Leoness, Fazeli, or Robert Renzoni, and leave time to enjoy the views. Temecula is warm, so mornings and late afternoons are most comfortable, and the reds and Mediterranean styles here love food. Book ahead for the dining and by-appointment stops, pace yourself, and arrange a driver or tour so everyone can relax.
Do not treat the De Portola trail like the busy main row; it is more spread out and rural, so plan drive times and do not overbook. Do not skip the food, the trail's restaurants are part of what makes it special. And do not come expecting only Cabernet, De Portola's strength is its international range, from Italian to Mediterranean varieties.
What is the De Portola Wine Trail?
A cluster of wineries along De Portola Road on the southern side of Temecula Valley, known as a quieter, more scenic and rural alternative to the busier Rancho California Road corridor. It is a favorite for Italian and Mediterranean varieties, hillside views, and winery restaurants.
How is the De Portola Wine Trail different from Rancho California Road?
Rancho California Road is Temecula's main, busier corridor with many of the largest, best-known wineries and resorts, while the De Portola Wine Trail is quieter, more rural, and more scenic, with family estates, Italian and Mediterranean specialists, and sweeping vineyard views. Many visitors find De Portola the more relaxed, charming side.
Which wineries are on the De Portola Wine Trail?
Highlights include Leoness Cellars (views and dining), Fazeli Cellars (Persian-inspired Mediterranean wines), Cougar Vineyard & Winery (Italian varieties), Robert Renzoni Vineyards (a Tuscan-style trattoria), Frangipani Estate Winery, Gershon Bachus Vintners, Masia de la Vinya, and Altisima, all on or along De Portola Road.
Is the De Portola Wine Trail good for food?
Yes, notably so. Several of its wineries have strong restaurants or dining programs, including Leoness, Fazeli (with its Persian-influenced BabaJoon's kitchen), and Robert Renzoni's Tuscan trattoria, making the trail an excellent choice for pairing wine with a leisurely meal.
How many De Portola wineries should I visit in a day?
Two or three is a relaxed, enjoyable pace. The trail is scenic and food-focused rather than a quick tasting sprint, so building the day around a long lunch and leaving time for the views beats trying to cram in five rushed stops, especially in the Temecula heat.
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